The Chemistry Of Diesel Fuel - Russell S.

Science is Life

30 Jan 201702:04

Summary

TLDRThis video discusses the production and importance of diesel fuel, which is derived from petroleum byproducts. Diesel is widely used in vehicles like buses, trucks, and trains, and is known for its fuel efficiency and reliability. The video explains the chemical processes involved in making diesel, focusing on how crude oil is distilled in a tower at high temperatures to separate its components. Chemists play a crucial role in identifying the boiling points of various substances during this process. The final product, diesel fuel, is stored and shipped for consumer use.

Takeaways

🔧 Diesel fuel is made from a byproduct of petroleum.
🚂 Diesel was originally supposed to be coal-based until Rudolf Diesel discovered its use with petroleum products in 1895.
🚌 Common uses of diesel engines include school buses, construction machines, public buses, trucks, trains, boats, military vehicles, and generators.
🚛 Over 94% of freight transportation relies on diesel due to its fuel efficiency and reliability.
⚗️ Chemistry plays a key role in making diesel fuel through a process called distillation.
🔥 Crude oil is heated to over 400 degrees Celsius in a distillation tower to separate components with different boiling points.
🛢️ Diesel is one of the components separated, along with kerosene, gasoline, butane, and propane.
🔬 Chemists determine the chemical composition of each mixture and decide where to place the distillation plates to collect each compound efficiently.
📦 After being collected, diesel is piped to storage tanks before being shipped to consumers.
🌐 Chemistry is essential to the refining process, ensuring that diesel fuel is produced effectively.

Q & A

What is diesel fuel made from?
-Diesel fuel is made from the byproduct of petroleum.
Who discovered the use of petroleum products for diesel engines?
-Rudolf Diesel discovered the use of petroleum products for diesel engines in 1895.
What are some common examples of diesel engine uses?
-Common examples include school buses, construction machines, public buses, trucks, trains, boats, military vehicles, and generators.
What percentage of freight transportation relies on diesel?
-Over 94 percent of freight transportation relies on diesel.
What role does chemistry play in making diesel fuel?
-Chemistry helps in refining crude oil by separating its components based on boiling points. This involves a distillation process where the crude oil is heated to over 400°C, allowing chemists to collect compounds like kerosene, gasoline, butane, propane, and diesel fuel.
What process is used to separate different components of crude oil in the distillation tower?
-The process used is called distillation, which separates components based on their boiling points.
At what temperature is crude oil heated in the distillation process?
-Crude oil is heated to over 400 degrees Celsius in the distillation process.
What are some compounds that are separated during the refining process besides diesel fuel?
-Some compounds separated during the refining process include kerosene, gasoline, butane, and propane.
Why do chemists need to know the chemical composition of each mixture during distillation?
-Chemists need to know the chemical composition to efficiently place the distillation plates at the right levels to collect each compound effectively.
What happens to the diesel fuel after it is collected in the distillation process?
-After being collected, the diesel fuel is piped to a storage tank, ready to be shipped off to consumers.